Following their loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at home at the United Center on May 3, the Chicago Bulls have now fallen short four games in a row. The Bulls have a losing streak dating back to last week, but the loss early this week was the least unexpected of all of them. Since the Bulls played without the star duo of shooting guard Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic in the last couple of games, the team has suffered.
LaVine has now missed nearly a dozen games in the last few weeks for first-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls due to a violation of the league’s health and safety protocol. Vooch has also missed the last couple of games for the Bulls dealing with an adductor injury.
There is the possibility, though, that the Bulls get LaVine and Vooch back for their next game, which comes on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on May 6. Yet, it might be too little too late for the Bulls to get their stars back to try and make a push through the final stretch run this season for a spot in the play-in tournament later this month.
Chicago Bulls struggles decimate their chances for the play-in tournament
The Bulls now hold a record of 26-39 following their double-digit loss to the Sixers on May 3. They sit more than three games behind the Washington Wizards in the race to land the final spot in the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference.
With just seven games total remaining for the Bulls regular season schedule, the chances of even making the play-in tournament are slim. That might lead them to shuffle the rotations down the stretch even further, which would make a lot of sense.
Here’s a look at three underutilized players who should get more playing time as the Bulls fade out of the postseason picture.